Hi All

[Warpiper]

I recommend using scarm http://scarm.info/ or something similar on a computer to lay things out. It'll give you and idea about what you can get done in a small area and a parts list if you find an arrangement that works well. That's how I knew that my 3'x5' layout had gotten out of hand and probably saved much frustration and wasted money in the process.

I'd also recommend taking a look at various example layouts to see what's possible. Depending upon what scale you choose to work in, you can get rather a lot in. Even a briefcase is large enough for a small n scale switchyard layout.

Hi Frank,

Is there an easy way of drawing out a benchwork on scarm. After several frustrating hours of playing with it, I can't get a benchwork because lines would cross. I'm trying to draw a lopsided oval with an open middle and benching running along the 3 walls and a run across the center of the room to connect the left and right wall.

 

[Trussrod]

Hi Chris, I thought I had a picture or two of my L-Girder bench work on the forum here but I don't find them? I'll have to take some others and get them saved to my gallery. If you care to send me your email address in a PM I can send the images directly to you.

Talk with you again,
David

 

[Warpiper]

Hi Chris, I thought I had a picture or two of my L-Girder bench work on the forum here but I don't find them? I'll have to take some others and get them saved to my gallery. If you care to send me your email address in a PM I can send the images directly to you.

Talk with you again,
David

Hi David,

Thanks. I'll shoot you my email.

Chris

 

[Frank]

Hi Frank,

Is there an easy way of drawing out a benchwork on scarm. After several frustrating hours of playing with it, I can't get a benchwork because lines would cross. I'm trying to draw a lopsided oval with an open middle and benching running along the 3 walls and a run across the center of the room to connect the left and right wall.

I believe, you're stuck approximating bencwork like that with a series of polygons. It's one of the things I dislike about the program, that and the difficulty in lining things up sometimes. You may find xtrackcad to be more your style as it's a bit more powerful. Some folks like Anyrail, but I found the interface to it to be one of the worst ones I've ever seen. Probably because they're using the MS style interface.

 

[Warpiper]

I believe, you're stuck approximating bencwork like that with a series of polygons. It's one of the things I dislike about the program, that and the difficulty in lining things up sometimes. You may find xtrackcad to be more your style as it's a bit more powerful. Some folks like Anyrail, but I found the interface to it to be one of the worst ones I've ever seen. Probably because they're using the MS style interface.

Thanks, I'll look into those other programs and play around with them as well. My biggest concern was with the radius and if I had enough space on the proposed bench. Figured I'd make a virtual benchwork and see what I could put on it. Wound up making a quick 18" radius template and held it over the proposed layout. It looks like I should have enough room for the turns.